By Mark Vogel
The truck arrives with another month's food
It’s 6:30 AM on Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Charles and two dozen parishioners gather with work gloves and hand trucks. In moments a large semi will deliver this month’s shipment of food being transported from Atlanta, Georgia. The truck pulls into the parking lot, and within an hour, parishioners will unload the contents and fill orders for Trinity and 10 other churches in St. Charles County to distribute at their locations. (more…)
- Kemper Map by convocation
- Trinity-St Charles Trinity Episcopal Church, 318 S. Duchesne, St. Charles, MO 63301, ph 636-949-0160, www.trinity-stcharles.org
Missourians were challenged by the downpours bookending the fury of the Good Friday tornadoes which devastated north St. Louis County neighborhoods, homes near Bowling Green, and caused such damage that the St. Louis airport closed for several days. Our parishes near the storm’s path, St. Barnabas’ in Florissant and St. Stephen’s in Ferguson, were not damaged, although the latter was without electricity for several days. Renee Fenner, rector of St. Barnabas’ wrote, “Our parishioners did not sustain damages which is miraculous since people drive from far and near.” Steve Lawler, rector of St. Stephen’s contemplated canceling Easter services, but instead opted to hold one service in their parish hall. Their story was 
As of late, St. Stephens Church is Ferguson is making a lot of noise. “St. Stephens the Church is like a lot of these churches that are having a hard time growing,” said Steve Lawler. Inspiration for Episcopal priest Steve Lawler to start a new page. “We realized the traditional arts community and cultural community in St. Louis doesn’t always serve North County.”
Lawler started a guitar program open to children and young adults. “This is really our attempt to put the guitar and music lesson and all of that in the hands of kids who might not be able to have this opportunity.”
The Garden of Eden
This past Saturday was a crisp, sunny autumn day on the Katy Trail, perfect for Bike for Bikes, the fifth bike-a-thon organized by the people of Trinity, St. Charles. While participation was down this year, fellowship was high. If you’ve not participated individually or with your parish, riders meet at the south end of Frontier Park and travel out for an hour then return.Youth and adults participate, water stops and checkpoints provided by the organizers, to keep participants safe and hydrated. After the ride everyone carpools back to Trinity for a great outdoor meal around a fire, the highlight being s’mores. Riders and churches contribute money for bicycles for the Diocese of Lui.
Trinity Rector Tamsen Whistler explained how this effort began. About six years ago when Bishop Bullen from Lui diocese was visiting, he stopped by Trinity on a Wednesday evening. He spoke about the civil war that had just concluded. He related the horrific story of his being removed from the cathedral at gun point by a young soldier, of thinking that he was going to be killed, of asking the soldier if they could pray together first, and of praying with the soldier in Arabic. In the silence surrounding the stories of the faithfulness and hope of the Christian people of Lui, a parishioner asked, “Bishop Bullen, is there something that we can do that would make a difference…something simple, something meaningful?” The Bishop replied that such a simple thing as providing bicycles would help enormously. Lui clergy often walk three to four hours between churches, on visits. Bicycles cut those hours dramatically.
It’s not too late to support Bike for Bikes, even if you weren’t able to ride this year. Checks will be gratefully accepted at Trinity Episcopal Church, 318 S. Duchesne St. Charles, MO, 63301. On Saturday, riders received bright orange wristbands that read “Biking for Lui” and “Praying for Lui,” and there are wristbands left. Until the supply runs out, a minimum donation of $5 will secure one of the remaining wristbands. Please note on the check for Bike for Bikes and if you would like a wristband.
